Summer is in full swing! As you lather up the sunscreen, fill the cooler with your beverage of choice (Ommegang Abbey Ale for me, thanks) and break out your thongs (sandals or otherwise, hey, we don’t judge) we present a list of recent comics that are well worth tracking down for your seaside, margarita-sipping, swimsuit-watching summer reading. Enjoy!

Top 5 Books of March

5. Giant Days #1 (BOOM!): OK, so, about 25 years or so ago, I made my way to The Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus; got settled in on the 4th floor of Pinchot Hall, a 10-storey sausage factory; cycled through a few roommates–smokers, snorers, and psychopaths–during my two years on campus; fell in with a group of dorks who’d be my best buds for four blurry years; and all together, as fun as I think it was–as I remember it was–it was nothing like John Allison and Lissa Treiman’s irrepressibly jocular Giant Days #1. Maybe that’s why I loved it so much. Co-ed Musketeers–Daisy, Esther, and Susan–are the hyperbolically dramatic center of this university; and hilarity revolves around them in effortless ellipses, much to our benefit. So good that I can confidently quote McGraw, the mustachioed hate interest, as I consider what the future holds for Giant Days and, fearing a sophomore slump, threaten the creators of this tasty treat: “Nothing you can do can spoil gravy for me.” (SC)

Giant Days #1

4. Autumnlands #5 (Image): Fantasy books are all about world-building. No comic in recent memory has presented a realm so fully realized as Autumnlands. Credit goes equally to writer Kurt Busiek (no stranger to this kind of thing – see Astro City) and artist Benjamin Dewey, whose lush style seems to belong to another era (it doesn’t hurt, of course, that it’s being colored by the omnipresent Jordie Bellaire, who I’m convinced at this point must be some sort of collective of robot artists). Floating cities, magical lore, calcified social strata, layer upon layer intertwine into a cohesive whole. Impressively, one doesn’t hear the awkard, behind-the-scenes clanging of this universe’s construction; rather, it’s as if it has always been there. It is merely our happy fortune to discover it, and get lost in it. Higher praise for a fantasy tale I can scarcely think of. (DM)

The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw #5

3. Ant-Man #3 (Marvel): I can’t even with this book. It is just too funny. I literally (and I mean that in the literal sense) have to keep putting it down because I’m laughing so hard. Literally! Nick Spencer is a comic (and I mean that in the comic sense) genius. Here’s your blurb: “The hero may be small, but the laughs are BIG!” (DM)

Ant-Man #3

2. Silver Surfer #10 (Marvel): Dan Slott and Mike Allred are producing the definitive run of this classic character. They spent most of the first year bringing the fun, with story after story teeming with imagination and wit. But with the Silver Surfer, the piper must always be payed. They tackle the central pathos of the character head on: how can a being who played a role in the deaths of untold millions ever be redeemed? The story they come up with is so simple, so perfectly elegant, that I almost can’t believe no one’s thought of it before. Everyone knows that superhero stories from the Big Two are ‘never-ending’. That’s a shame, because this issue would serve as the perfect coda not just for this series, but for the journey that Norrin Radd has been on since Fantastic Four #48, all those decades ago. Beautiful. (DM)

Silver Surfer #10

1. Zero #15 (Image): The Jeff Lemire variant queries innocently enough, “What is Zero?” Answers inspired by fourteen issues of Ales Kot’s crazy, crazy calculus: Soldier. Spy. Hero. Killer. Storyteller. Everything. Nothing. Open up the book, open mind, as always, as necessary with this schizophrenic series, ask again: Who is Zero? Answer inspired by page one, panel one: I have no effing idea! <–I borrowed an exclamation point; don’t think it’ll be missed. Kot unexpectedly offers up a figure who’s furiously fingering a typewriter and, in doing so, adds a literary layer, making the book more than Zero. He’s gone meta, forging unforeseen relationships, crafting, out of the story thus far, a psych-session confession and a catharsis-in-progress. This stunning thing with its wild spirit sees Kot exploiting his poetic proclivities: his words build images that build upon artist Ian Bertram’s images and affecting layouts: it’s a conscious stream of Ginsberg and guns, fathers and sons, drugs and drugs–all of it burrowing into the brain like a drunk bullet. Stories don’t get more tragic than William S. Burroughs’, and Kot’s made magic by borrowing it–as if you couldn’t tell.

Zero #15

The Biggest Dis(appointment): Descender #1 (Image)

Descender is the perfect title for this highly anticipated offering from the frustratingly inconsistent Jeff Lemire: the book, which starts off well enough, descends quickly–and dizzyingly so–to robotic schmaltz, lowlighted by the insultingly saccharine introduction of Tim-21, which bored a hole nerve-deep in my otherwise pretty resilient sweet tooth. Anyone know a good dentist? (SC)

Descender #1

Top 5 Books of April

5. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4 (Marvel): There’s a long-overdue resurgence taking place in monthly comics that are putting the ‘funny’ back in ‘funny books’. We’ve been trumpeting the aforementioned Ant-Man for a while now; add to that the likes of God Hates Astronauts, Kaptara, and East of West (ok, maybe not that last one). Enter: Squirrel Girl. Ryan North (fresh of his excellent, award-winning run on Adventure Time) and artist Erica Henderson have already established a quirky charmer through three issues. Well the fourth installment is, simply put, the funniest single comic I’ve read all year. Most books are lucky to get a chuckle; this one had me laughing out loud five times before I was even that many number of pages in (I’m laughing now, just remembering them). Or maybe I should just put it this way: Squirrel Girl Vs. Galactus. Nuts Said. (DM)

the unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4

4. Mayday #1 (Black Mask): Curt Pires pops for real with this frenetic filet o’ film–one that drops some noms de cinéma (Kaufman, Lynch, and Bay) and goes to effing guerre with them. Oh, yeah, man: it’s a wild ride that reads like a regiment of lines on a mirror meant to be snorted with the eyes and sorted out with a muddied mind. Re: minds: Pires, paired with the more than competent Chris Peterson, sells a story that, in terms of comics, is “sort of like” Matt Fraction channeled through Ales Kot with Tyler Jenkins and Michael Walsh trying to one-up one another from one panel to the next. Mayday #1 will leave you questioning your life choices–especially if most of them have sucked. But you will not question your choice to pick it up–even if it is “just one big blur”; nor will you question whether or not you should pick up #2. I mean, Kleio and Terrence have “just murdered two dudes.” You totally don’t want them to come after you. (SC)

Mayday #1

3. War Stories #8 (Avatar): Sounds like a given: Part 2 of “The Last German Winter” hits the mark with this icy mid-arc march through moral relativism; but let’s be honest: there’s nothing easy–nothing safe–about it. I mean, who can take a Nazi, humanize his ass, then make you wonder all along when hell will come to pass? Only Garth Ennis can. Only Garth Ennis can. (No, you’re not imagining things: go back and hum the tune as you read–heck, sing it out loud, you Sammy wannabe!) He crafts a German hero–Gerhard the Gallant–who, considering the situation, is easy to root for; but we know better, don’t we? Don’t we? Just in case, Ennis reminds us, elbows us to make sure we’re paying attention; oh, but then he nudges us–so vulnerable to his charms–right back to where he wants us–seeing the man, not seeing the monster–thanks mostly to his narrative voice, the vulnerable Rachel Kohler, and to the portrayal of the even more monstrous Russians, their evil punctuated by an horrific splash from Tomas Aira. The execution is near Nabokovian! (No, you’re not imagining things: go back and Hum.) Now that, dear reader, is a war story! (SC)

War Stories #8

2. Chilling Adventures ofSabrina #2 (Archie Horror): Was a long time coming–so long that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa offered up an apology to kick off the letter page!–but this second issue of Sabrina, which introduces with verve the vengeful and irredeemably evil Madam Satan, was well worth the wait. The aforementioned writer–who not only sets a scene, he sets it on fire with his precise imagery–and artist Robert Hack, whose retro style is equal parts pillowy soft and boldly bloody, own the tone of this witches’ brew, which is bubbling over with literary allusions. It’s campy; it’s creepy; it’s killer, kids! (SC)

Sabrina #2

1. Silver Surfer #11 (Marvel): Dan Slott and Mike Allred follow up the powerhouse of issue 10 with a comic that is as formalistically daring as it is emotionally satisfying. Surfer and Co. are trapped in a time loop and the question becomes not only whether they’ll escape, but whether they’ll even realize it at all. A graphic illustration of Free Will versus Determinism, a metaphor for the repetitive cycle of our everyday experience, a tale of love, forgiveness and redemption; this issue delivers all three in a thrilling marriage of form and content. I maintain that issue 10 would have provided an excellent ending to this wonderful series. But I’m glad it didn’t. (DM)

Silver Surfer #11

Top 5 Books of May

5. Zero #16(Image): Collective unconscious, the inevitability of change, the destiny of DNA, the life sentence that is guilt–Zero‘s certainly much more than its title insists. It’s a proving ground, of sorts; it’s Ales Kot’s firing range of ideas: it’s rhyme-free reason; it’s a game of William Tell: Kot himself is the tortured William S. Burroughs, and we’re the trusting Joan Burroughs, with an apple of expectations balanced precariously on our head. Too. Tempting. BANG! Somehow this experimental spy story became an experiment in layers deep meta-fiction; and, despite the jarring shift, the result is nothing short of spore-born brilliance. Wherever this crazy thing ends up, rest assured, Ales Kot will not fail us–but he’ll sure as hell phallus, as evidenced by Tom Muller and Stathis Tsemberlidis’s cocky cover, which, in turn, is further proof of an air of youthful arrogance in Kot’s work, especially here in Zero. I’m more than happy to breathe it in for as long as it lasts. (SC)

Zero #16

4. Afterlife with Archie #8 (Archie Horror): Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla continue to add to their modern horror mash-up by seamlessly incorporating elements that you didn’t even know you wanted; everything from The Shining to The Crucible, even A Christmas Carol. The result is rich tapestry that continues to add texture to the story, a mix that acknowledges the high-points in the history of horror through the unlikeliest of lenses. (DM)

Afterlife With Archie #8

3. Mind MGMT #33 (Image): The ultimate showdown’s coming, but there’s no sign of a slowdown–even as Matt Kindt slows things down to foster a touching family reunion, one that frames Team Meru’s Soldiers of Fortune Cookies and their receiving and executing–with stunning efficiency–their munching–er, marching orders. The decidedly deliberate issue ends with a Dalicious splash that promises a wild time. With the end of the series so near, I’m excited, I’m anxious; but, no, Pipe Kid, I’m not ready–and I’m as not ready as I’m ever going to be. (SC)

Mind MGMT #33

2. Providence #1 (Avatar): Avatar’s publicity department has been describing this new series by Alan Moore as “The Watchmen of horror”. But the story from Moore’s oeuvre that it more readily calls to mind is From Hell (an even more impressive achievement to this reviewer’s mind). FH brilliantly examined the underlying brutality of patriarchal hegemony through the lens of Victorian England, using the Whitechapel murders as a vehicle. Providence promises to delve into the repressed corners of American society of the past century using the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft (a passion of Moore’s for some time now) as a framework. Moore explores the Jungian implications of Lovecraft’s mythos (underlying realities masked by our limited human perception) by using them as a metaphor for aspects of the American experience that needed to remain hidden, given the times (in this case, “the love that dare not speak its name”). Yes, there is much to unpack here. Yet for all that, this first issue is a master’s class in restrained, subtle storytelling. The deliberate pacing, the seemingly minor details that gain importance as the issue progresses, the symmetry of the opening and closing segments; Moore’s assured control of the material, when he’s on, has never been matched by another comic book writer. To say nothing of the insane amount of research that is woven throughout. Which brings us to the art. Here another comparison to FH is apt: Eddie Campbell’s nonpareil art in that tome had a scratchy looseness, a sketchy immediacy that pulled the modern reader with its irrepressible energy, despite the period setting. Here, Jacen Burrows takes the opposite approach: meticulously rendered, exhaustive research evident in every carefully placed line. The effect is polished, subdued and certainly visually impressive, but with a formal stiffness akin to watching an episode of Downton Abbey. And yet this is reflective of Moore’s otherworldly precision. Ultimately, the hyperbole of comparing this new series to the well-known Watchmen is needless. This first issue promises an epic Alan Moore tale to match or exceed, in scope, ambition and execution, anything he’s previously produced. That alone should suffice. (DM)

Providence #1

1. Material #1 (Image): With Material, Ales Kot’s has found his forum, the perfect space for him to keep pace with the injustices of the world. No matter how desperate or disparate, they have a home here; and God knows he’ll never want for material as long as he never casts off the lenses–the perspective-altering critical approaches to analyzing, well, everything so relied upon by campus comrades, the arrogant academicians and their lecture-hall spawn–that help him to see the Ugly Spirit* in, well, everything. Despite the pessimism that pervades the four narratives, which may or may not Crash into each other at some point, what Kot’s come up with–in tandem with the ironically-named Will Tempest–is beautiful. He asserts that there’s hope in moments, in connections, and what better way to convey that point than with a comic book! Holding its pages open is like holding hands with Kot himself as he leads the march toward enlightenment–toward Utopia. And even if that march is born of naÏveté, it’s fueled by honesty, by brashness; and in the context of this comic, it’s something I want to follow.

*See Zero to see Burroughs to see that Kot’s got the Spirit–yes he does! (SC)

Material #1

Biggest Dis(appointment)(April/May): Convergence/Secret Wars (DC/Marvel) – A bunch of heroes and villains from various alternate universes battle it out on a patchwork planet in a Secret Crisis of Ultimate Infinite blahblahblah. Yes, I’ve just described the plot of both summer blockbuster crossovers from the Big Two. In the cynical cycle of endless Events, this has to be a new low. I don’t know who’s guiltier: the company that seemingly pilfered the other’s concept, or the company that came up with such an awful idea to begin with. (DM)

For all of you keeping score, here it is: our Top 5 Books of February!

5. Satellite Sam #11 (Image): Waking life–and death! Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin are as masterful as ever as alarm bells go off, eyes open, and metaphors deliver their lines with ironic conviction. This thickly-themed and perfectly-timed issue sees the largely unlikable ensemble cast dissembled and reassembled, self-serving agendas selflessly serving as the common thread that binds the lot together on this very, very good morning. (SC)

Satellite Sam #11

4. Ant-Man #2 (Marvel): How did this book, easily dismissed as a cynical corporate media tie-in, make it into our bag, much less our hallowed Top 5? Well, one could mention the appealing heart in a story about a down-on-his-luck divorced father who’s willing to do anything to be near his daughter. Or one could point to the clean, appealing art by Ramon Rosanas and Jordan Boyd. All true, but what separates this book from the congested, middle of the road superhero pack is that it is so. Damn. Funny. We mean it folks: not LOL funny, but quite literally Laugh-Out-Loud funny. People on the train giving me strange looks as I’m guffawing at a freaking comic book funny. Any comic, hell anything, that can engender such a visceral reaction is aces in my book. So let’s just come out and say it: Nick Spencer is the funniest writer working in funny books today. (DM)

Ant-Man #2

3. Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1 (Image): With a sly “Hi,” David Lapham welcomes us back to the next round of Bullets: a lone gunman–a coldly fetching Kretchmeyer–is hunted down by series vet, the brooding Spanish Scott, a calculating killer himself, who is, let’s be honest, more siesta than fiesta. Scott’s lethargic inevitability–you know, like death itself–is integral to the development of the issue-spanning tension, especially as it mirrors the dangerously direct and determined Kretchmeyer’s own semisomnambulistic nature. Lapham brings the two together, guns drawn, in an unforgettable–and emphatically phallic–panel that finds Beth, one seriously distressed damsel, an extremely interested party who quite literally doesn’t want to lose her head. Yeah, it’s vintage Stray Bullets, folks: it’s fun; it’s violent, and it’s tight–it’s “another [effing] hole-in-one.” (SC)

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1

2. Silver Surfer#9 (Marvel): The little engine that could. The ant with high apple-pie-in-the-sky hopes. Buster Douglas. Life. Yeah, we’ve got a thing for the underdog; it’s hardwired; heck, it’s about survival–our own survival that we fight for vicariously through whatever odds-against scenario we’re privy to in the moment. That’s what makes this issue of Silver Surfer so affective–so blisteringly painful. Dan Slott and Mike Allred do more than just continue the brilliant course set in #8, our #2 book of January; they ride it to greater emotional heights, selling the Surfer’s inspirational effort of “surfing the moon,” only to–in the blast of an eye–reveal the tack’s ultimate value: none. Yeah, seems Galactus is no Goliath, and the Surfer–stripped of the power cosmic–is the Surfer no more. But his defeat doesn’t leave us feeling defeated. Oh, no it doesn’t. Despite the bleak ending–maybe because of the bleak ending–we’re built up even more; we’re even more defiant, more hopeful. See: hope is our heroin, and thanks to the low note struck at the end, we are super high and primed for the return of our hero in a month’s time–primed for victory–because the little guy always wins–right? (SC)

Silver Surfer #9

1. Mister X: Razed #1 (Dark Horse): We honored Dean Motter’s previous installment Mister X: Eviction with the 2014 Innie Award for Best Limited Series. So expectations were high for his new collection. Well, we’re happy to report those expectations have been met and surpassed. In a book that already wears such stylish influences as Will Eisner and Fritz Lang, this issue boasts a gorgeous ensemble of O. Henry with just a dash of Edgar Allan Poe (in the undergarments) to weave a seamless, pulpy dream. You won’t find a better looking (or reading) book this season!

Seriously, Motter has spent years building up the fantastic, darkly surreal playground that is Radiant City. Now we get the supreme pleasure of just sitting back and watching the master play. (DM)

Mister X: Razed #1

Biggest Dis(appointment): Moon Knight #12 (Marvel) – Brian Wood takes a fascinating, morally fraught premise – Khnoshu abandons Marc Spector and bestows the mantle of Moon Knight on someone who’s willing to murder a head of state for his past crimes against humanity – and ends it with a cop out. Spoiler alert! Turns out the new Moon Knight was just after his money! A weak ending that invalidates a riveting, timely premise. A true let-down. (DM)

Here’s What’s I&N Store: The Spring Break Edition. It’s a lot like the MTV Spring Break shows of the late-’80s, just without the alcohol and the butt floss.

OK, so it’s nothing like the MTV Spring Break shows of the ’80s.

Rebels #1 (Dark Horse): Just I&N and I&N Demand I’m grabbing this one and I’m grabbing it fast! How fast? Howard Fast–that how fast. Man. That’s pretty damn fast. It’s not as fast as I’d like, though. See: my guy doesn’t open until Noon. So, instead of picking up my book on a fine April morning, I’ll be picking it up in the afternoon. Hey: either way, it works for me. I’m just excited to get something original from Brian Wood, one of our favorite writers. In fact, his recently completed Dark Horse series earned the #5 spot in our Top Ten of 2014. But this–this–may be an even more massive undertaking. There’s a Revolution calling–and I’m picking up. Fast.

Rebels #1

Astro City #22 (DC/Vertigo): You know, it’s funny: I didn’t care for the Quarrel arc at all until, wouldn’t you know, “The End of the Trail.” #21 hit some decent notes, including the all-in, action-packed opening and the honesty that fueled the resolution. But as someone who has been critical of the arc, I found the final page the most honest bit of writing that Busiek has done outside of The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw lo these last several months. I know, I know: I’m hearing what I want to hear; but, come on, it’s pretty remarkable that Samaritan says, “There’s got to be a better way than this. We’re losing people we shouldn’t lose.” Um, yeah! Hello! “Good hearts, good minds.” My heart! My mind! “There’s got to be a fix”–yes, indeed! “We can’t leave it like this…” Mr. Busiek, I suspect you won’t. That’s why I’m willing to stick around. Good talk, by the way.

Convergence #1 (DC): Ouch. Dan Jurgen’s super-redundant #0 left me feeling super-loopy; it left me feeling like I want to be left out of the latest reboot loop. Are we kicking things off in the Bizarro world or something? Because I can’t imagine that Scott Lobdell’s name is much of a selling point nowadays. I guess if your plan is to destroy the Universe as we know it…

Copperhead #6 (Image): Copperhead started off really, really well. Then it became, well, pretty run-of-the-mill. Hey, I get it: it’s tough to keep the magic going. Correspondingly, it gets tougher to keep the money flowing.

Descender #2 (Image): Look: #1 was OK. It was familiar and cheesy and did what it needed to do for a first issue. But it wasn’t the big book that many of the review sites built it up to be. Gotta give my man Derek props for his prediction, which may or may not play out: he expects Descender to play out a lot like Sweet Tooth, which I haven’t read. I do know, however, that Lemire’s not afraid to lean on stuff he’s already written. I’m willing to go at least two deep to see if he’s got something new–at least in my sphere–something that’ll hit me like Essex County or Trillium.

Nameless #3 (Image): I&N Demand Let’s be honest with each other: #1 wasn’t all that good. (Granted, it was a #1–even more, it was a Morrison #1.) #2, however, asserted very adamantly, “We’re all good,” what with that terrific twist and all. So, yeah, I’m glad I didn’t cross this one off of my list. It may claim to be Nameless, but it’s kinda Namemore, isn’t it? I mean, Morrison and Burnham are names that sell, names that deliver. Scott Lobdell, however…

The Surface #2 (Image): I don’t know: I didn’t like #1 very much. Might be because I’m stupid. Might also be because Ales Kot–who’s killing it on Zero, our #7 book of 2014–can be pretty incomprehensible at times. No, really: I skimmed through it. I never skim through a comic. I skimmed through this one, though, because I couldn’t connect to it. Odd, right? Especially considering the clever social commentary about being hyper-connected…

All-New Hawkeye #2 (Marvel): Fraction’s baby should’ve been put to sleep for good. But it wasn’t. Instead, Lemire’s in charge; and, as usual, he’s reaching into his quiver of tricks–this time back-waaaaaaay back–to Trillium. That’s right: the last page, if anything, was a flipping warning. Yeah, I’m leaning toward passing.

Ant-Man #4 (Marvel) I&N Demand Ant-Man is a big book–a huge book!We loved #2 enough to name it one of our Top 5 Books of February. #3 was pretty awesome, too. I mean, c’mon: the Taskmaster? And how about the line of the year so far: “Pick a theme!” Yeah, I laughed out loud. Thank you, Mr. Spencer! Something tells me that we’ll be celebrating your book again! Yeah, it’s more than just a little vice at this point, ain’t it?

Ant-Man #4

Evil Empire #12 (BOOM!): Suddenly, I’m not so excited about Evil Empire. Doesn’t feel as tight. And, if I’m being honest, Victor Santos’s art hasn’t lived up to the standard set by those who have come before him. I’m pretty invested at this point, so I can’t imagine jumping off.

Avery’s Pick of the Week

Scooby Doo Where Are You? #56 (DC): Of all of the comics I’ve bought for Avery, the ones I reread the most are Scooby Doo books. She loves the big reveals!

Frankenstein Underground #1 (Dark Horse): Anything with Mignola’s name tied to it screams… Well, yeah: it screams. Been around the catacomb a time or two with Frankenstein’s monster, haven’t we?

Mind MGMT #31 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand #30 was easily our #1 book of January. Damn thing erased everything and rewrote it even more painfully. There’s something Stray Bullets-ish about Kindt’s attention to detail across the series, in the impact of each issue; in this case, however, every round is a shot to the head.

Mind MGMT #31

Superman #39 (DC): Geoff Johns’ Superman sounds like Superman, and I’m a super happy man as a result. Who cares if the storyline didn’t develop as well as it could’ve and if Romita and Janson’s artwork appeared faster than a speeding bullet and about as powerful as Mister Roger’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Alex + Ada #13 (Image): I&N Demand This book is a whisper–the breath of a lover that fills your ear and sets off a silent storm that races up your spine, steels your muscles, and makes your skin scream. Yeah, that’s exactly what it is.

The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars #1 (Image): Hoping that the new format is the key to recapturing the science behind this once superior series.

Outcast #7 (Image): Pretty close to exorcizing this one from the list, as well. Despite some interesting moments, I haven’t developed a connection to Kyle–at least one that has me caring enough to carry on with this very wayward son.

Satellite Sam #12 (Image): I&N Demand The best TV show in comics. Each episode/issue is a sprawling mosaic of self-interest that reads–unlikely–like a long-story-short told round the water cooler. Love it.

Satellite Sam #12

Secret Identities #2 (Image): I was kind of hung up on the untransitions from one character’s secret story to the next. It was a odd choice for a first issue–unless, of course, it was done to emphasize the separate personal spheres, which are such an integral part of the story. Hmm. The twist at the end: ho-hum. Had me thinking Deathmatch in spots. Maybe that’s why I’m on to #2.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2 (Image): I&N Demand Spanish Scott is a galleon of gold, and #1 let him shine: his pistolet-à-tête-à-pistolet with Beth and Kretch ranks as one of my favorite panels of the year.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2

Zero #15 (Image): I&N Demand #14 could’ve easily ended the series, right? Can’t not speak of the protracted fight scene, which had its moments–including an stare down that jumped off of the page; otherwise, it seemed unnecessary, almost lazy storytelling-wise, which contradicts most of what Kot’s done since #9, our top book of July 2014. It’s been a remarkable run, one that was due a hiccup.

Zero #15

Magneto #16 (Marvel): Magneto’s a badass. And that’s all ye need to know. Wondering what “Secret Wars” is going to do to the mighty Magneto.

Moon Knight #13 (Marvel): Wood and Smallwood’s run–which rounded out 2014 on a high note–stumbled across the finish line with an inexplicably weak resolution to an otherwise compelling story. Now Bunn takes over–with artist Ron Ackins–with expectations unexpectedly lower. Lucky Bunn.

Burning Fields #2 (BOOM!): I thought #1 was pretty solid. I mentioned that it was like Homeland and The Killing. #2 had me thinking The Bridge. Also kind of lost me a bit. I considered just letting it go, but still I buy.

Cap Stone #4 (Titan): Has been OK through three issues. Certainly hasn’t lived up to the promise of the poetic and beautiful–and near miraculous–first issue. Had Moore in mind; ended up Less. Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate Sharp’s vision. Page to page, the narrative’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. At times, however, the disjointedness causes the narrative to stall.

Divinity #2 (Valiant): I liked #1. I’m a big Kindt fan, but I’ve struggled to find a series outside of Mind MGMT that works for me. Sure, I’ve enjoyed The Valiant, but he’s sharing writing duties with Jeff Lemire on that one. While not mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination, #1 hit some Kindt-ian notes that rang true, that carried consistently through the issue, leaving me far more satisfied than I was after reading Rai and Ninjak. I certainly hope that #2 transcends to the divine.

You did a double-take, didn’t you? You were expecting to read Spider-Gwen at the end of that superlative statement, weren’t you?

Ugh.

Colder: Bad Seed #5 (Dark Horse): Nimble Jack is back, baby! Maybe that’ll add a little oomph to an otherwise lethargic exercise. Tobin and Ferreyra cultivated a creepy tone early on but kind of got stuck in one place. Man, I’d give the finger to this series, but I’d be worried about getting it back.

Mister X: Razed #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N and I&N Demand It’s the first time a book has earned both enviable distinctions! Oh, yeah, baby! Mister X is back, and we couldn’t be any more excited! One reason–and it’s a good one: back in 2013, Dean Motter delivered the brilliant Mr. X: Eviction, which earned the coveted #1 spot on our highly respected Top Ten list, beating out the likes of Mind MGMT, Six-Gun Gorilla, and Saga. Now that’s gotta tell you something. Can’t wait to see what Mr. Motter has to tell us this time around.

Mister X: Razed #1

Bodies #8 (DC/Vertigo): Gosh. #1 hit the shelves with such promise. Unfortunately, the damn thing collapsed under its own weight and, as a result, has been a four-pronged slog ever since. Glad it’s over.

Suiciders #1 (DC/Vertigo): Lee Bermejo’s doing his own thing. Would be silly not to try it.

Low #6 (Image): I’m still pretty high on Low. Remender’s not ringing my bell anywhere else; but this diving bell of a book is tintinnabulous!

ODY-C #3 (Image): This gender-bending blitz on Homer’s epic is a damn siren’s song; it’s a party with the local lotophagi. Didn’t dig it so much after the first issue. Good thing I stuck around.

Rasputin #5 (Image): I’m riding it out ’til the end of the arc. There isn’t much here that’s keeping my interest.

They’re Not Like Us #3 (Image) I&N Demand Deadly Class only wishes it was this good. How would you act if you had superpowers? Eric Stephenson’s got the answer. Heck, it’s like a team full of feisty and rather petty Ozymandiases. What’s going to happen when the stakes get raised? Can’t wait to find out.

They’re Not Like Us #3

The Wicked & The Divine #8 (Image) I&N Demand The book’s got attitude. Yeah, this book’s a real bitch–a beautiful, effing bitch–one you’ve just desperate to have. But even when you have it, you don’t really have it; it has you.

The Wicked & The Divine #8

All-New X-Men #38 (Marvel): Chapter 4 of “The Black Vortex” crossover. Yeah, I’m out of that loop. Probably going to leave it on the shelf. Hindsight is 22/22: should’ve done the same with the Ultimate waste of an arc.

Daredevil #13 (Marvel): Despite some strong work from Chris Samnee, the Stunt-Master arc wasn’t particularly exciting. Reminds that Waid’s missed the mark some since making the move to the Left Coast. This issue kicks off the final chapter of Waid and Samnee’s run. I say perfect timing. Speaking of perfect: how about Samnee’s cover:

Daredevil #13

Darth Vader #2 (Marvel): #1 was fine. Was the Force with it? Not so sure about that. Got to give Gillen another go-round to see just how dark his helmet gets.

Men Of Wrath #5 (Marvel/Icon): I’ve enjoyed it enough. Father-son stories always hit me where it hurts. It’s like “Cat’s in the Cradle” but the cat’s been blown to furry bits by a blast of buckshot. “When you comin’ home son, I don’t know when, but I’ll fill you full of lead, dad, you know I’ll shoot you in the head…”

Abigail and the Snowman #3 (BOOM!): My daughter’s kind of scared of the Snowman. She has to convince herself that it’s just a cartoon–the same way she talks herself down when Marshmallow shows up in Frozen. Still she’s made it her pick of the week.

Snow what? I’m definitely digging the blizzard of comics–whether good or bad–in the forecast for my area.

Resurrectionists #4 (Dark Horse)

Astro City #20 (DC/Vertigo)

Satellite Sam #11 (Image): I&N Demand Sam‘s been gone for a while. Can’t wait to get back into the sordid swing of things. Hope my guy has it in stocking–I mean, stock. Gosh. This cover’s got me Chaykin in my heels.

Satellite Sam #11

Southern Bastards #6 (Image): I&N Demand The shift in the focus of the narrative was surprising, sure. It’s also been pretty boss. A punishing tale of persistence that is its own reward.

Southern Bastards #6

All-New X-Men #36 (Marvel)

Darth Vader #1 (Marvel)

Thor #5 (Marvel)

Brides of Helheim #4 (Oni)

Divinity #1 (Valiant): Just I&N Matt Kindt’s next Valiant venture.Sure, I didn’t like Rai very much; I even lost interest in Unity pretty quickly. But I’m enjoying The Valiant and am curious to see Kindt’s take on Ninjak. This, however, is the one I’m looking forward to the most. I certainly wouldn’t mind if Kindt manages to give me another book to love–you know, to eventually fill the massive void that’ll be created as Mind MGMT reaches its inevitable end.

Divinity #1

Magnus: Robot Fighter #11 (Dynamite)

Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody #5 (Valiant)

Rachel Rising #31 (Abstract Studio)

The Sixth Gun #46 (Oni)

Über #22 (Avatar)

War Stories #5 (Avatar)

Wild’s End #6 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Wild’s End ends here. How much does that suck!? The first five issues have been anthropomorphically delicious! We have been in love with this series–from Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard–since the deceptively simple and surprisingly affective first issue. (Between you, me, and the scary-ass lamppost: we loved it so much that we named it one of our favorite books of 2014. No, you haven’t missed anything: we haven’t gotten around to publishing the list yet; but it’s coming soon–I promise.) If you’ve pretty much missed the train on this one, do yourself a favor and put the trade on your list. You will not be disappointed.

Of course not. The deep freeze doesn’t give a sleet how hot the books are.

Still worth the risk, though, of jumping into the ol’ snowmobile and maybe–quite possibly–most assuredly–running off the road, ramming into another road warrior, and/or crashing right through the façade of your favorite comic shop.

Right?

Right.

Whoa, wait: I may have something here: a drive thru comic shop…

Somebody get on that.

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D. #3 (Dark Horse)

Lady Killer #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand I tweeted this out about a perfectly executed #1 because I had to:

Superman #38 (DC) I&N Demand New costume? Thank God. New power? Say what? It’s as bright as day: Johns and JRJ have been like twin yellow suns re-energizing the Last Son of Krypton; so I’m down with whatever it is they want to do.

Superman #38

G.I. Joe #5 (IDW)

Birthright #5 (Image)

East of West #17 (Image) I&N Demand Everything about East of West has been great. Hickman went bigger with this world of his, and he’s owned it–like a mad god suffering from significant stretches of lucidity.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #1 (Image) I&N Demand The follow-up to the killer Killers arc. Didn’t read Killers? Haven’t been hit by any Stray Bullets at all? Consider this a jumping on point–one that’ll inspire you to jump backward into the satisfyingly-uncomfortable line of fire; into a shotgun blast of expertly-wielded ambiguity. Pull the trigger, you son of a gun! Give Sunshine and Roses a shot!

Bodies #7 (DC/Vertigo): An autopsy has revealed that there’s life yet in Bodies. Oops. Nothing more awkward than a premature postmortem. Sorry, Mr. Spencer et al. Didn’t mean to doubt. I’m believing again–and just in time, too.

Alex + Ada #12 (Image): So beautifully human. Sure, the dialogue reads like it’s right out of an episode of Girlmore Girls–you know, that bizarre, hypnotic monotone that’s so damn maddening. Thing is, it’s not off-putting here; it’s actually strangely affecting. But most of all, I love the subtle shifts in the art from one panel to the next. Speaks so loudly without a single word.

Bitch Planet #2 (Image): Ouch! Kelly Sue DeConnick went and bitch slapped me and my low expectations for her women in prison send up. I’m man enough to admit: in #1, she exploits exploitation expertly, reminiscent of Tarantino at times–which is a pretty deadly compliment. Here’s another: throughout, I heard–more so, I saw with a hawk’s eye, if only in fractions, her hubby’s voice. Heck, yeah, I’m gonna grab #2. Doesn’t mean I’m in for life. We’ll call it probation–with higher expectations this time around.

The Dying & the Dead #1 (Image): Just I&N Jonathan Hickman’s Image work has been pretty great–particularly East of West, which has been nothing short of great of late. No reason to expect anything less here.

The Dying & The Dead #1

Rasputin #4 (Image): I was mostly on board through two. #3, however, felt a little light on substance. I’ll thumb through this one and hope for heavier. Wouldn’t be the worst thing if I decided to drop it, if I’m being honest.

They’re Not Like Us #2 (Image) I&N Demand OK, so, we’ve heard this one before, right? Of course we have. And we’ll keep hearing it, too–but maybe not quite like this. See: all those other X-wannabes are not like They’re Not Like Us. Ha! I worked it out! Anyway… Sure, the book read well enough: the writing’s solid; the art works. But I wasn’t completely sold until the end note. Yeah, that’s a damn fine way to end a familiar tune. Hoping that Stephenson and Gane keep separating themselves from the others with a strong sophomore effort.

They’re Not Like Us #2

Zero #14 (Image): I&N Demand One of our favorite books of 2014. (Just how favorite? You’ll have to wait to find out.) After a big time low point, Kot’s found his voice–which, at times, has been splendidly silent, allowing the artiste du mois to do the real talking. Very much looking forward to what Kot’s got in store for us to kick off 2015.

Zero #14

Thor #4 (Marvel): Despite its heavy handedness–not related to Mjolnir, mind you–#1 was a promising start. Since then, however, the book’s reminded of Superior Spider-Man–everything I hated about Superior Spider-Man. I should probably pass.

Uncanny X-Men #30 (Marvel): Uncanny‘s been a ton better than All-New of late. And that’s all I have to say about that.

The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood #4 (Dynamite): Everyone loves a good ethical dilemma. No one does ’em better in comics than J. Michael Straczynski (The Twilight Zone). He’s not writing this. But it’s not bad. Credit Christina Blanch and Chris Carr for the fact that TDoCW is engaging on that “What would you do in the same situation?” kind of level. (For the record: I’d do whatever it takes to take care of my daughters; so I feel for Charlie–and am rooting for him.) I think my interest is amplified by the fact that good ol’ Charlie Wormwood’s an English teacher, who most assuredly has learned a lesson or two about ethical dilemmas through the novels and stories he’s read and taught through the years. He probably never thought he’d be the one sitting across the table from the devil…

Evil Empire #10 (BOOM!): I&N Demand I really like what Max Bemis has been doing in his crazy country worth of comicbook. Evil Empire is smart, aware, fearless, and, above all, entertaining as &%$@. Happy to see Victor Santos–owner of a very distinct style–on visuals. And, as always, Jay Shaw on cover duty:

Evil Empire #10

Quantum and Woody Must Die #1 (Valiant): Yeah, I love Quantum and Woody and what Asmus has done with them, but I’m leaning toward leaving this on the shelf. I just don’t like the games Valiant’s playing with the all-of-a-sudden minis and one-shots. Just give me a damn series to follow! For example:

X-O Manowar #32 (Valiant): I can’t believe I’m thirty-two issues in! Credit to Robert Venditti. He’s so good at X’s and O’s that he could probably coach a basketball team. Hell, he could take over the Knicks right now. Couldn’t do any worse than Derek Fisher. Right?

Avery’s Pick of the Week

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #27 (IDW): My daughter loves her ponies–and not just in comics, either. We’re an MLP blind bag family, thanks mostly to DCTC (Disney Cars Toy Club)–otherwise known as YouTube Crack for Kids. We opened two blind bags tonight. Got a new one–Lucky Swirl, who looks a lot like Twilight Sparkle–and a “same duplicate,” as my daughter calls it. Yup: another Neon Lights. Yay.

This is not a drill: I will be buying no fewer than three Action Labs books this week. To make room for them–and a sexy hardcover that I can’t possibly pass up–in the ol’ bag, I’m considering a couple of high-profile drops (Sex Criminals, Starlight). Also looking forward to some reinvigorated interest (Zero) and an awkwardly-named under-the-radar book–the terrific Thomas Alsop–that’ll make your bag go BOOM!

Dark Ages #1 (Dark Horse): New series from prolific Brit writer Dan Abnett and artist I.N.J. Culbard. They’re offering a take on the Dark Ages that’s a bit alien to us. Dark Horse is offering a preview here. I’m enjoying Culbard’s work on 2000 AD’s Brass Sun, so I figure I’ll give this one a try.

Astro City #14 (DC/Vertigo): With #13, Busiek and Anderson showed us a real good time: 24 hours’ worth of finely fractured Astro City action–a puzzle with the final piece placed oh so perfectly.

Astro City #14

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37 (IDW): Shredder and Krang? How’s that going to work out? This “stand alone” promises to provide the answer. Standing in for Mateus Santolouco is Corey Smith, who’s been doing some solid work on Dynamite’s Magnus: Robot Fighter.

Sex Criminals #7 (Image): Congrats to Fraction, Zdarsky, and Image on the Eisner for Best New Series. OK. Enough of that. I wasn’t overly–or underly–impressed with #6. It felt like a conversation I could’ve had with my buddies, which is fine, you know, its playing nostalgic notes and all; but is that what I want out of a comic book? Well, that’s pretty much what the series has been from the get-go, and, if I’m being honest, what caught my interest initially. That interest, however, has waned, again, because, in the end, this isn’t a comic book as much as it’s, as the narrative knowingly reveals by disintegrating the fourth wall, an occasionally clever conversation that would be better suited as a blog or a podcast. The “criminal” contrivance has been the comic book bait; but in the end, it’s the sex talk that sells, and I’m not buying it anymore. Probably not.

Starlight #5 (Image): #4 was so far from the promise of #1 that I’m figuring Millar’ll never get back to it. He’s fallen to formula, as usual, and, as a result, I’m leaning toward passing–as usual. Sucks, too. #1 was so damn good.

Zero #10 (Image): Speaking of living up to promise: Ales Kot’s back on track after delivering a very affecting #9, which worked its way to a Sophie’s Choice moment played out with a painfully pregnant page turn. And now as I’m warming back up to Zero, it’s off to Iceland.

Zero #10

All-New X-Men #30 (Marvel): #29 was non-stop action rendered mostly in shades of Cyclops’s signature ruby red, which helped to sell a still suffering Scott Summers. Happy to say, I’m still high on how Bendis is handling the X-ceptionally large cast of characters. With all the time travel stuff going on, the most significant journey is the one I’m taking: Bendis and crew are reminding of what made the X-Men so good for so long–and what I, as a Claremont-reared X-reader loved about ’em.

The United States of Murder Inc. #4 (Marvel): A killer series all around. I had my doubts after the first issue; but #2 and #3 have been a double tap to the head.

Archer & Armstrong #23 (Valiant): Fred Van Lente is doing it his way all the way to the end, my beautiful friend, the end–of “American Wasteland.” I wrote about #21 here, and #22 was a mighty fine follow-up that is in the running for our Top 5 of July. Can’t wait to see how the arc plays out. I just know I’m gonna love it madly!

Archer & Armstrong #24

Armor Hunters #3 (Valiant): So far, so good. Doesn’t claim to be anything more than what it is.

The F1rst Hero #1 (Action Labs): On the strength of the deific Dry Spell, I’m trying any and all Action Labs books that I can find. I don’t know the creators, but when has that ever stopped me?

Midnight Tiger #1 (Action Labs): Ditto. Brings to mind Danny Fingeroth and Mike Manley’s stab at an all-new teen hero back in the early ’90s: Darkhawk. That book ran for fifty issues. How many will DeWayne Feenstra and Ray-Anthony Height end up with?

Southern Dog #1 (Action Labs/Danger Zone): Double ditto. Expected: immediately calls to mind Southern Bastards and, of all things, Ms. Marvel. Comparisons are inevitable. Most interesting of the three Action Labs titles–even if, in the end, it’s a werewolf book. The last werebook I read–which just so happened to have Riley Rossmo on it–was the underwhelming Cursed (BOOM!).

Thomas Alsop #3 (BOOM!): Thomas Alsop. The name doesn’t really ring, but don’t let that fool you: this book is friggin’ great. In fact, we’re calling #2 one of our Top 5 Books of July. One of these days, we’ll get around to the write up. Until then, be sure to pick this up–if only to see how well Chris Miskiewicz and Palle Schmidt balance the present and the past.

Thomas Alsop #3

The Heart of the Beast HC (Dynamite): The team of Judith Dupré (author of Skyscrapers, an award-winning book about, well, skyscrapers, don’t ya know!), Dean Motter (creator of the Innie Award-winningMister X: Eviction), and Sean Phillips (artist of Brubaker-ian proportions; see: Fatale, Criminal, Incognito, and the soon-to-be-released The Fade Out.) make this book–celebrating its 20th Anniversary–a Must Buy.

Avery’s Picks of the Week:

Littlest Pet Shop #4 (IDW): The littlest pets are big on fun!

Doodle Jump #3 (Dynamite): My daughter’s been known to drop everything only to exclaim, “I’m a ninja!” She’s also kind of obsessed with American Ninja Warrior. She creates her own obstacles and attacks them, only to jump off into the “water,” which, of course, is a win. I love my little ninja!

The Massive #25 (Dark Horse): Since February, The Massive has been an I&N monthly Top 5 Book. That’s a record five months in a row! On the strength of that, I think it’s safe to say that Brian Wood’s book is headed for the Top Ten of 2014. For the most part, “Sahara” delivered its powerful feminist message in the understated manner–Women! Water! Life!–we’ve come to expect from Wood. (If I’m being fair, Part Three felt a bit preachy at times, but not to the detriment of the issue or of the arc.) The final arc–with its promise of Massive answers–begins here.

Veil #4 (Dark Horse): Has been somewhat disappointing–the last issue, in particular. I’m not caring too much about the femme ratale. There’s something all too familiar about her. Fejzula’s art’s been good, though. I’m riding it out because it’s a fiver.

East of West #14 (Image): Has been North of Excellent. Hickman and Dragotta certainly took their time building a big world–which is Hickman’s bag, ain’t it?; oh, but they’ve been hitting big–no, really big notes of late. (#12, in particular, was ridiculously good.) A dark robot horse for my personal pick for the Top Ten of 2014.

Fatale #24 (Image): Lots of love for the poetic penultimate issue. I thought it was spectacular, really–visually (different for Phillips on Fatale that’s for sure) and in terms of revelations. Brubaker went Big Bang, man. As I’m remembering, I’m still kinda affected by the whole thing with Josephine’s son. Creepy as hell, but, in the end, necessary, no? Speaking of the end: this is the femme finale–and I have no doubt: “It’s going to hurt.” Yeah, it’s going to be tough to say goodbye to one of our favorite books.

Fatale #24

Low #1 (Image): I couldn’t be any lower on a creator than I am on Remender. Why would I do this to myself??

Outcast #2 (Image): “Demons are the new zombies,” eh? The first issue was a decent set up. It’s no Thomas Alsop, that’s for sure; but I’ll give it a few, you know, to see where it goes. (If you’re not reading Thomas Alsop from BOOM! yet, get on that. You won’t be disappointed.)

Hawkeye #19 (Marvel): Listen up! Apparently, it’s taken Aja a long time to master the art of sign language for this issue. That’s right: try to remember–or I’ll remind: Clint’s gone deaf. So…

Hawkeye #19

Uncanny X-Men #24 (Marvel): I missed the last issue. As a result, I have no idea what secrets Xavier’s will revealed. Now that’s a sin!